The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-01
PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN.
An English Woman's Experience as 6
Drawing-Room Debutante.

An EngflSn l1uy WHO TeCtIluy hdu Uilc
honor to be presented at court writes to the
Pail AolJ Gazette a rather interesting &C
count of her experience. She says: AT all
| ordinary parties it is fashionable to come in
late; when royalty entertains it is the cor
rect thing to arrive before you are invited,
and the longer you are in waiting the great
er is presumed to be your loyalty. When the
Queen announces her reception at 3 O'clock
you ought to be already in your carriage at
! 1880, sitting outside the palace until the
royal door is opened. As an eager crowd of
| sightseerS throng all approaches, it is little
| trying TO sit an hour or so with a line of
noses pressed against the carriage windows,
while an ever-faling shower of criticisms on
Ser dress" aSsails the ear When further
remarks about ser 'eadn are added, one
feels the criticisms are more personal than
| pleasant,
Our moment of triumph comes however,
at last, when the barrlirs are withdrawn
and the carriage dasheS through the arch
way, followed by eager eyes that would fam
| penetrate the unknown wonders hidden be-
| hind that dull, impasSiVe front of palace
wall, AS the carriage vanishes from public
view it enters an inner court, formal and
| cherries, save for the bright coats of
troop of household cavalry on guard. AS
we drive under the portico the royal beef
eaters stand ready to open the huge doors,
and few policemen make theInselve useful.
| The low rooted hall we enter is supported by
| pillared arches but it has a gloomy, cellar
| like feeling in spite of its rich decoration.
| Along one side runs the cloak-room, where
| number of elderly and
| NOT VERY SMART MAIDS
are ready to take our wraps and fold up our
! nine feet of trains into a manageable bundle
| to be carried about until required. From the
hall we ascend long, straight staircase to
| the corridor above, where officials stand in
| gold-embroidered raiment and require our
passport to the realms of social bliss. give
| a card SIX inches square, on which my name
IS writ large and is received in deferential
J silence. | sweep my robes along the gallery
through the ballroom, with its scarlet and
| gold, all deserted, and then into the first
state drawing-room, which looks out with a
row of stately windows into the palace
gardens Here stand about 100 women
| dressed in court attire, and fresh arrivals
swell the number every minute. Between
this apartment and the one i'll which the
queen receives are four stateTrnoplS,, filed
| with other ladies waiting to applaach ]her
majesty. Newcomers have consequently
plenty of time before them, and they Com
pose themselves to admire and ctftfcise the
| brilliant crowd. N+t 0shIS5i
The first impression of bevy Of aioiiien in
court costume is one Of great elegance.s ffhe
uniformity i'll the dressing of the hair, I%ith
ostrich plumes and wells, gives q special
character to the scene. Young girls pres
ented for the first time look out Witt Won
| derinG ewes from their masses of white tulle
and feathers | notice three sweet faces
! all following one maieStic mother and load
ing tho air with the fragrance of three huge
bouquets of lilies. One parsonage has gown
! and train of blue satin, covered with bold
embroidery Of gold thread, which has some
how strayed away from Japanese screens.
Mrs. Osborne Morganis IN red velvet. The
ucheSs OF Leeds displays Of tiara of daz-
zling brilliants. Lady Gwendoline Ramsden
wears a pretty train of gray hrocade, woven
with yellow flowers and trimmed with yell
low feathers The general coloring of dresses
is peculiar this year Tints of mauve and
eSthetic pink are in n decided majority
Fabrics of woven gold and silver abound
and look magnificent. Mrs: Henry BrasSey
apears in one of these-a handsome black
brocade with golden flowers. Mrs. john
Holland wears cream satin, also stiff with
golden threads, and charmingly contrasted
with train of dark green velvet. Mrs.
Clifford carries a SPLENDID bouquet of
orchids, matching all the tints of the mauve
brocade which forms her train.
THE EFFECT
of this is charming. Mrs. Raikes in white,
with a satfron-colored train, attracts notice.
One of the protest women wears a simple
gown of cream brocade and no diamonds
Several people asked one another her name.
heard she was Mrs Arnold Royle.
The usual hour of waiting passed pleas
aDtly. The sun showed through the tall win
dows, lighting up the golden heads AMI
flashing jewels of the crowd, while blazing
fires cheered us as doors were thrown open
by the gentlemen in-arins and we passed
from room to room. These singular beings,
with their brass helmets of fire-brigade
pattern and tail, white plumes, seem relic
Of regency days, and would he more in
| harmony with the boon companions of the
Baronet of Ruddygore than the beefeaters
in their soft Tudor dress. Towards O'Clock
we gained the room next the queens pres
enoe. Now, my dear, collect your mind
rand hold your fan properly" | heard q
mother whisper to her daughter, who was
coufessing TO another debutante that she felt
lawfully frightened Still she bore up.
| From this room we march out one by one.
with train stretched far behind us, into the
royal presence. The moment is not pleas
amt; there seems SD much millinery and 50
little individuality Tails and plumes have
il all their own way, and the woman is
( overlooked. As one enters the throne room,
the Queen stands out conspicuous in her
diamond crown the broad blue ribbon of the
J Garter browning her breast The clear voice
of the Lord Chamberlain calls ont ones name,
and at that instant the first courtesy should
be made The Queen returnes each saluta-
ton kindly, though she looks tired. BY her
side stands the Princess of Wales, in gray
satin, with "a great diamond star over her
! brow. She bows somewhat stiiIiy, as if she
knew her duty and was prepared to do it.
Princess Christian claims the next courtesy
and acknowledges il with scant attention
Then the Duchess of Albany in black excites
| peculiar interest, as she returns sweetly our
reverence. Below her stand the two young
daughters of the Princess OF Wales,
| WHISPERING GAYLY
TO one another, vet attentive TO acknowledge
salutations, while their father watches over
them, and CHEEKY as ever, waves the last
adieu to the disappearing train This was
the merry end of the royal line.
The ordeal is over Gathering up our
robes, we have pleasant chat with friends
i'm the picture gallery, where so many of the
masterpieces OF Dutch art waste themselves
on indifferent beholders. People look more
| graceful now they are quite at ease, and the
presence of the diplomatic light brigade
adds fresh color and picturesque costumes
TO the scene TheGreek ministers wears a